Helm hans von siegsfeld



Patented Oct. 25, I898.

R. M. W. H. VON SIEGSFELD.

AIR BALLOON.

' (Application filed Aug. 14, 11596. (No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

m N V w 1) izz/0 6 ram fiymgzblwagyeaz N0. 6!2,996. Patented Oct. 25,I898. B. M. W. H. VON SIEGSFELD.

A R B A L L O O N (Application filed Aug. 14, 1896.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RUDOLPH MAX W'ILIIEIlM IIANS VON SIEGSFELD, OF SOI'IONEBERG,

GERMANY.

AIR-BALLOON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 612,996, dated October25, 1898.

Application filed August 14, 1896. Serial No. 602,800. (No model.)Patented in Germany October 10, 1893, No. 75,731-

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUDOLPH MAX WIL- HELM HANS VON SIEGSFELD, asubjectof the Duke of Anhalt, and a resident of Schoneberg, near Berlin, in theKingdom of Prussia and German Empire, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Air-Balloons with Openings Opposite to theAir-Current, (patented in Germany October 10, 1893, No. 75,731,) ofwhich the following is a specification.

The object of the present invention is an air-balloon which is united bya system of cords with a second smaller balloon to obviate thedisturbing movements and variations of the main balloon which renderaccuracy difficult in military and metereological observations. Bothballoons are provided with certain special improvements in order toprevent deformation or bumping by the action of the wind, the form ofthe balloon being essential to the velocity, steadiness, and accuracy ofits movement.

The invention is explained by reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation, and Fig. 2 a plan,of theinvention. tion of the auxiliary balloon. Figs. 4: and 5 represent insection the arrangement of the rudder-bag at the lower end of theballoon, in Fig. 4. the pocket D being full or blown out, while in Fig.5 it is shown open. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views of the valveD,leading from the pocket D to the rudder-bag S.

The main balloon, the essential parts of which are already known, actslike a kite, and consists chiefly of a long cylinder with hemisphericalends. Although it is provided with a rudder. S adapted to the form ofthe ends of the balloon, it is important to render the instrumentindependent from all sudden irregular motions occasioned by too greatvelocities of wind. Such violent sudden motions of the basket or carrender continuous observations very difficult. Now it has been shownfrom a number of experiments that this difficulty can only be avoided byattaching to the balloon another body a certain dis tance from the mainbody in such a manner that in proportion as the balloon moves thissecondary body will overcome a certain re- Fig. 3 is asec-,

and it has been founda series of smaller balloons or kites attached tothe main body by cords or similar appliances will be most suitable forthe purpose of steadying the main balloon in its motions. It is notadvisable to employ any stiff unyielding parts, since balloons beingfilled in the open air violent motions will be occasioned by a strongcurrent of wind and will detract from the safety of the whole machinery.Now inasmuch as the main object of using these auxiliary balloons orkites is to employ certain bodies which by a rotary motion of the mainbody will be compelled to perform certain work, it results that thesecondary bodies must be given a form which with a small volume willcombine great resistance to the pressure of the wind. This isaccomplished by giving to the main body of the auxiliary balloon theform of a ring 0, while its base by certain suitable coverin'g (1presents a smooth flattened surface which can operate like the surfaceof a kite. In order to increase the surface, another ring e of largerdiameter and smaller cross-section is placed around the first,whose basecoincides with that of the second.

To the interior of the auxiliary balloon or kite a system of cords isattached in such a manner as in the main balloon. An additional cord 3is carried from the combiningpoint 4 of the two cords 1 and 2 to theinner part of the ring, where it is branched out and neutralizes thepressure of the wind upon the central parts of the balloon. In order topre vent unnecessary violence of movement atail f, formed like the tailof a kite, is fastened by two ropes attached to the auxiliary balloonand almost diametricallyopposite each other. The two cords 1 and 2extend from the point of attachment of the auxiliary balloon or kite andare attached to two points on the main balloon, near the rear endthereof.

Those manageable or captive balloons constructed hitherto cause by theaction of the air-currents about them in case a balloon should not becompletely filled with gas bumps or deformations in its surface, thuscausingirregularityinitsmotions. Allmeans calculated to prevent thisinconvenience require continuous refilling of the balloon or inflationwith air, which results in a considerable waste of time and are,furthermore, dangerous on account of the possibility of overtaxing thecapacity of the balloon- In order to obviate this, an orifice or openingg is made on the lower side of the balloon provided with a funnel-shapedmouth into which the wind will blow, whereby the air will inflate theballoon by passing into a small balloonette or compartment formed by thedeepest portion of the balloon and an inner covering A. This so-calledballoonette constitutes a pocket in the interior of the balloon, which,being filled by a funnel-shaped opening placed opposite to the directionof the wind, has for its principal function to prevent indentations anddeformations of the balloon which might ensue from the pressure of thewind or from loosening the cover of the balloon by escaping gas. Theseam of the balloon corresponds with a cut through the middle of thelower edge of the cylindrical part and the middle of the rearhemisphere. A further wind-catcher h is arranged at the lower part ofthe auxiliary balloon, which opening between the covering d and theballoon itself acts like a balloonette and keeps the balloon inposition.

Fig. 4 shows a horizontal wall A- of the pocket inflated downward onaccount of the expansion of the gas while the balloon is rising. Thisinflation by acting upon the cord B, connected with the valve of theballoon, causes the same to open. 'When the balloon descends, the windentering the small balloonette inflates the principal part of the wallof the balloonette. The wind may still enter the balloonette D, thevolume of which may increase or diminish, or it may enter the rudder Sthrough the inlet-valve it, which is a flap or non-return valve adaptedto permit the entrance of air but not its return and which may bemaintained closed, when desired,by cord 10 This rudder, the verticalsection of which presents a curve, is hemispherically-shaped in itsupper part and is provided with an opening a smaller than the entrancefor the escape of the wind. Thus a lower tension is maintained in therudder S than in the balloonette D, which causes the safety-valve D ofthe balloonette to open as soon as the pressure in the balloonettebecomes too high.

In Fig. 5, E illustrates the upper wall of the balloonette D; S, therudder; D, the safety-valve, and B the rope acting upon the escape-valveC.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is-

1. The combination, with a main balloon s, an auxiliary balloon or kiteabove and somewhat to the side of the main balloon and connectedtherewith by properly-arranged ropes for the purpose of decreasing andobviating the oscillation of the basket or car and keeping the same inposition, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a main balloon of an auxiliary balloon or kiteabove and somewhat to the side of the main balloonand connectedtherewith by properly-arranged ropes for the purpose of decreasing andobviating the oscillation of the basket or car and keeping the same inposition, the main balloon being provided with an apparatus to keep thesame smooth and comprising an inner covering or diaphragm and anair-funnel opening toward the direction of the wind-current and arrangedto conduct air into the balloonette formed by said covering ordiaphragm, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a main balloon a, of an auxiliary balloon orkite above and somewhat to the side of the main balloon and connectedtherewith by properly-arranged ropes for the purpose of decreasing and0bviatin-g the oscillation of the basket or car and keeping the same inposition, and consisting of several ring-shaped balloons connected sothat their common base acts like a kite in order to obtain with as smalla volume as possible an enlarged wind-pressure su rface.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twowitnesses.

RUDOLPH MAX WILHELM HANS VON SIEGSFELD.

Witnesses:

PEREQUINE VARNALS, MAvRIo SOHMALL.

